Working for a team like Red Bull KTM can be a dream. We asked how to make it a reality …

Red Bull Ajo KTM Moto3 Team

You like bikes, love racing and see all those pristine shirts and pit-lane set-ups on the TV. How do you get into that world? As you might expect of a sport set at world championship level it is not easy but we chatted to Red Bull KTM boss Aki Ajo as well as a member of his team, Patrick Unger, for some insight.

“I think there are many groups and backgrounds from where you can find staff but there is always one thing behind it all and that’s the passion for the sport”, says Aki Ajo, the Finnish overseer of his own Grand Prix team since 2002. “I don’t think you can do this job if you are not passionate for MotoGP. If you are just interested in electronics or mechanical things then I think it is quite hard to stay here for a long time. For some people the passion is already there before they even start to dream of working in the paddock. For some others they might have a special skill then the passion comes when they start working with the bikes and at the races. You need the passion to have the energy to do the job and that is the main thing for me.”

Aki Ajo: “I don’t think you can do this job if you are not passionate for MotoGP.”

So how to judge if a person has the right level of that passion and commitment to racing? “I think you can see it quite quickly normally. You have to analyse a person a little bit and find out why he likes racing, what goals he has, what family he has, his hobbies and what he is looking for in life. You can see quickly if it is possible to work with a person.”

Ajo guided Sandro Cortese to the first ever Moto3 world championship with KTM in 2012 and previously wracked up two more titles in 2008 and 2010; the latter with a certain Marc Márquez. The former racer now steers the KTM and Husqvarna factory efforts in Moto3 and is relying on a bigger crew than ever to do the job. Nine months of racing, testing, a workshop base in Spain and essentially life on the road means that finding a blend of personalities and characters is vital for harmony and an effective working machine tuned to deliver results for the team, partners and sponsors. Basically your face has to fit.

“I think the attitude can be just as important as the curriculum”, Ajo affirms. “Normally I’m not so interested in the CV. It is just a piece of paper. I like to talk with the person and judge their attitude. Sometimes it can be more complicated to take an experienced and knowledgeable guy because each team has its own system. We are not arrogant but we trust our system and we like to keep our feet on the ground. We look for people who can fit in with the way we work.”

Ajo: “Normally I’m not so interested in the CV. It is just a piece of paper. I like to talk with the person and judge their attitude.”

Aki Ajo & Jack Miller

Part of the crew is Patrick Unger. The German has filtered his way through the team since 2010 and is now the Crew Chief for Jack Miller as well as controlling the technical side of the entire Ajo operation. “In between the sessions I’m responsible for technical things in general – across the teams – but when Jack is on the track I have to focus directly on him”, he says. “The general work means being in touch with the KTM guys at the factory to give feedback on development of the parts and make requests.”

Unger is another ex-racer who competed at German and world level and an example of how simply being in the paddock anyway can lead to a change of direction and profession. “All the careers are so different”, he says. “Many guys in the paddock have been riding themselves – like me – so I think it is very helpful for this job as you understand the rider very well: what he needs, what he describes and what he feels on the bike. I found it very hard to say ‘I’ll stop riding’; it was the hardest part in the development process but once you ‘get it’ then you really start to enjoy the job. For sure you need the interest in motorsport, and more so bikes. It has to be a personal hobby. You can make it here through studying but I think it is very hard to then get into the GP paddock because you might not know many people.”

Patrick Unger: “Many guys in the paddock have been riding themselves – like me – so I think it is very helpful for this job as you understand the rider very well.”

Jack Miller & Patrick Unger

Around Unger there seems to be a busy and focused group when we visit the team at the Catalunya Grand Prix. Looking around there is a distinct feeling of the age span. “Maybe it is easier to find that attitude from the young people”, Ajo explains. “They might start as a second mechanic and if you see that they are very hungry and want to learn more and have targets to take steps, then many times those are the best guys finally to take on more responsibility and have a better position in the team. It also means they grow and maintain the spirit of the team. If you get to a responsible position like a data recorder or crew chief then we have to be sure that it is the right person for that work. Many times people are growing and studying in the company; we are a bit like a university in that regard and that is the best. Learning in house.”

Ajo: “Many times people are growing and studying in the company; we are a bit like a university in that regard and that is the best. Learning in house.”

OK. So I’m not that old. I’m crazy about racing. I’m ready for all the hours and demands of being in a Grand Prix team. But I’m not yet in the paddock and I haven’t raced. Am I stuck? Other than looking at mechanic racing schools like Monlau Competition it seems I need to get to events and be putting my name about.

“Most of the time it is about the network”, Ajo says. “Including the Spanish Championship team I would say we are around 35 people and the group is bigger through the technical partners and also factory staff. The network is important because the mechanics or the companies or contacts with us will know of a person who is interested and could be good for us. That’s how it works. Sometimes we get emails but if I don’t have a recommendation then we are at too high a level for me to reply to each one. I would prefer an introduction or a reference then people knock on the door and we talk.”

26 Responses to How to … get into MotoGP

Hugest fan of MotoGP and would love to race I have grew up around bikes from my grandparents to uncles and to my most loved of them all my dad. My dad is the one that mostly got me into wanting to ride I am 15 years old and when I get a bike if I never made it to MotoGP I would ride the Isle of Man TT with my dad and become a racer that way, might take along time but will make it into racing eventually.

Dear sir, I live in Mumbai, I am 29 years old, I am very passionate about motogp as I love superbikes and what it feels to be on a race track. Its too late for me to start a career as a moto3 rider but I am eagerly waiting to make my career in this sport. We all know how expensive this sport is to start with as a career from an early age specially in India, due to financial conditions, I had to choose a different career or stay jobless. I worked hard and managed to buy ktm rc390 last year. Unfortunately we don’t have race tracks in Mumbai so I could not try my hands on it but fortunately I participated in a drag race which is organised once every year at Ambey Valley. I am currently working as Manager-Recruitment but I am not paasionate about my job. I want to make my career in this sport. I will be comfortable with any job which keeps me close enough to work with bikes and on the track. If there is any possiblility of entering this sport, then I would request for your guidance to apply and get into it.

[…] in the eastern part of Austria’s Styria region. From grandson to grandfather, a multigenerational MotoGP outing. First and foremost, the boys from the Silver Bull Riders motorcycle club. And Friedrich […]

[…] For years after that, Austria was nothing more than a big white spot on the MotoGP map. But now MotoGP is back – with a vengeance! With 215,000 fans making the pilgrimage to the Red Bull Ring, this […]

Hello KTA team
I currently live in South Korea and really want to join MotoGP.
However, I am curious of whether I am eligible for the criteria or the person that your team is looking for because of my major and aptitude.
I am a sophmore, majoring English Language&Literature and I can speak French. Also I am planning to learn more languages.
What I want to know that would it possible for me to join your team? Of course not the mechanic engineering related tasks, but I thought that there would be something I can do for your team such as Public Relations, using my linguisic skills.
Also If you don’t need someone who speak French and English, I am already planning to gain more career that your team is looking for.
Not to mention about the passion on bikes and races, I believe it would be enough to say that I have been riding bikes for more than 10yrs and I have 600rr.
I believe you will be very busy, replying all those questions and other tasks but it would be really grateful if you leave feedback for me.
Thank you very much and have a awesome day! 🙂

[…] has just four left side corners). As you’d expect from a curve that is one of the slowest in MotoGP is fairly technical. “I normally look at the important corners and those that are also the most […]

I’m currently studying mechanical engineering in Switzerland and my dream is to work in a motorsport team, especially a MotoGP one. I am just so desappointed surfing on the internet and discovering the work experience wanted by the big constructors like Yamaha, Ducati, BMW, KTM, etc.

I was just wondering if motorsport teams prefered an experienced guy or a passionated one. In case you wanted some experience (which is probably the case), what kind of job can we find right after graduating could fit your requirements ?

I know what I’m asking probably do not have an answer, but if you had pieces of advice about what decisions to take to lead one’s career to motorsport, I would make a good use of it.

just like others , we INDIAN, don’t have more opportunity for any motorsport whether its motogp or f1. why racing teams like ktm ,redbull,yamaha,honda etc . do not conduct any free trial on the track,which is open for all .in that way we will get a chance to show our potential and our talent. we need some bloody permission from fmsci for .and believe me they never take things seriously.i hardcore rossi fan my only dream is to compete with him on a racing track.m struggling since last 22 years so that i get into racing .
i have humble request please conduct any free trial on buddha international circuit without much criteria barreirs ,because we won’t get the fmsci permission easily .
give it a shot for young riders

My name is Jack, I’m currently in year 11 at school in Australia.
Motorsport, MotoGP in articular, is my passion and has been for a number of years now. However, not living in Europe seems to limit my opportunities to make it on the world stage. I’m deeply interested in working in the MotoGP paddock but I am insure of what path to take in order to get there, who to talk to, who to contact, what to study and mainly what opportunities are out there for me.
Any advice, links and help in general in regards to how to get to and work in the paddock with a team, such as Red Bull KTM, would be extremely appreciated
Thank you
Best regards
Jack

Dear Jack,
Unfortunately, there is no generally-applicable advice or way how to start working in motorsports. A career depends on various factors and needs a little bit of luck as well.
We wish you all the best for your future
Team KTM BLOG

Hi,I would like to know how to start a career in MotoGP as a racer? I searched the whole internet but couldn’t find anything which could give me an exact idea to how to go about it.Could you please assist me?

been reading some of the comments. A Career in Motorsports is not just about passion and watching races., unless your dad has been a former racer ;-). You need to make the step. Decide on which area you need to develop your career- Chassis, Electronics, SW, Telemetry, Data, Powertrain, Try to get a technical education/training in the area, get contacts.. Yes.. you are going no where with out networking. if needed, move to a new location, Learn a new language, get a small job in some local racing series, work your weekends probably without much pay, then work your way up slowly to the big leagues. I made my big move some 6 years ago. Been working ever since in SW Development/Testing field. Had the chance to work for F1. but then, I had other priorities in life.. But the call to Motogp is getting stronger by the day! 😛

I have recently gave up a career of 11 years to pursue a new career, my passion and hobbie is motorbikes from MX to road riding. I build and restore motorcycles in my spare time. I have the drive and determination to succeed in this industry . I pride myself on my ability to learn new skills/knowledge and put that into practice in my job. I watch the Moto GP religiously and all I dream about is being part of a team that adds to moto sporting history, I may not have an engineering degree but I can ensure you that what you teach me would be don’t to the highest professional standard.

I am Utsav Tiwari, from Country:India, State: Maharashtra, District: Nagpur, City: Nagpur. My age is 27 i want to be a rider in motogp or Mx dirt bike. I wants to know how to make a carrer in bike racing , i needs to know a proper step by step process on how can i build my carrer in bike racing or how can i join your winning team, i dont have any racing background or any of my anceators in this field ita just i am very passionate about biking..so plz help me in understanding how do i get start what should i must do to start a career in biking as a racer or how can i enter in this field..i just love biking and racing…my contact no.is +91 9552694118 plz help me guide me in building carrer in bike racing or stunting or in dirtbike racing..plz plz..

I need to get into the racing world
I own a duke200 and looking to upgrade it shortly
And with the deepest desire to get into motoGP im writing this ! I don’t know where to start from and what to do
I live in India
And can you please tell me where to start from?
I have given up everything and I want to be a Racer ! I have nothing in my mind
Can you please please help me !?
Thanks in advance 🙂